Automatic filling replenishing loom.



c. H. DRAPER'. AUTOMATIG FILLING RBPL ENISHING LOOM. AN. 28, 190e.

APPLICATION FILED J C. H. DRAPER.

AUTOMATIC FILLING RBPLENISHING LDOM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.2B, 190B` Paented Deo. 22, 1908.

UNITED STATES PsTENT OFFICE.

CLARE l. DRAPER, OF IIOPEDALE, MASS CHUSl-"TTS, ASSIUNOR T() DILAPICRCOMPANY, 0F

HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETI'Q, A t/OltPORA'llON 0F MAINE.

AUTOMATIC FILLINGREPILENISHING LOCM.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Application led January 28, 190B. Serial No. 418,118.

I lo all whom itvmay concern' Be it known that I, CLiRE Il. DRM-1ER, acitizen of the United Si aus, and resident of Hopedalr, county ofWorcester, State of ll/Iassachusetts, have invented an Improvement inAutomatic Filling Replenishing4 Looms, ol" which thefolioing-(lesrripton, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, lilie let ti rs on the draw ing representing lik#` parts.

This invention relates more particularly to looms of the type whereinmechanism is em- Eloyed to replenish automatically the running llingwhen the supply of filling has become substantially exhausted, and has-es ecial reference to such looms when equip e with so-calle dro orshftin shuttleones.

in a loom 4having shifting sh.uttleboxes and using filling of 'differentcharacters or colors it is sometimes 'found desirable to change thefilling of one character `or color prior 'to complete exhaustion, whenthcshiittlel carrying such 'filling is in action, Without effecting suchchan e 1n another shuttle, or shuttles, carrying itiling of a ditcrentc'haraoter or color. For instance, in weaving fabrics which 'haverelatively narrow stripes ditfering inJ character or color from 'themain or body filling, anclwhich stripes form a relatively small portionof a givenlength of the fabric, it is desirable to change Ythe bodytillim; prior to complete exhaustion of the supply in the activeshuttle, while it is unnecessary to make such provision with regard 'tothe shuttle or shuttles which carry the-auxiliary or striping filling.Blanket fabric is an example, which is generally Woven with a relativelyextensive plain or body portion, having one or more stripes at one end,or both ends,.as the caso may bc.

Looms have `been devised. wherein the re-v in a loom having automaticiilling replenishingr` incrl'ianism, andshifting shuttle-boxeo, alillingwxlmustionfmdicatlng mechanism so constructed and arranged thatit is rendered active or operative with respect to one of the shuttlesand inactive with rcs ect to other shuttles of the set or series. 'iysuch construction `the main `or bodyiilling is carried in thc shuttlewith respect to which the cxhaustion-indicating mechanism is active, thereserve supply of such filling being contained in the hopper or eeder ofthe replonishin mechanism, While the auxiliaryor occasiona tillin ofdifferent character or color, is carried' y the` shuttle or shuttleswith respect to which the exhanstionndicating instrumentali/ty isinactive when such shuttle or shuttles may be in operation.

In the present embodiment of my invention -'I have shown thefilling-exhaustionndioating mechanism at the side of the 'loom adjacentthe shifting shuttle-boxes, the replenishing mechanism beinvr at theopposite side 'of the loom, and l. group df fioul' shiftingsh'uttlelhoxes, with the eidiaustion-indioatin mechanism to act Withrespect to Ebut one -s uttle when its ibox have show-n a is in operativeposition. It will `be manifest however,l that the particular.' number voshuttle-boxes in the roup may be 'greater or less than four, and i forany reason '1t :may he desirable to have the filling-feelin c0- opcrate-Wit-h more than one shuttle of the set such arrangement can be readilycfieoted as will appear, though it will be. understood that so far asconcerns my present.. invention each one of such shuttles would ca'lil-'ling of the sanne character or coloro 'it is undesirable to havethe feeler of the' exhaus-4 tion indicating instrumentalityinterni-ittin .ly operating when the shuttle or shuttles wit respect 'to'w'hid-h. it is'inactive may be in operation I have provided means tomove the feeler into inoperative position, in

ing instrumentality and the adjacent shifting shuttle-boxes; Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional detail. on the line 2-2, Fi 1, looking toward theleft; Fig. 3 is a liront elevation of the shifting shuttle-boxes andtheir guide, the front girt being broken off to show more clearly themeans for moving the feeler into position to be locked.

The lay 1, having at one end a uideZ and front girt 3, Fig. 1, and dropor s lifting shuttle-boxes 4 verticall movable in the ide, four boxes orcels being shown in igs. 2 and 3, and the rod 5 on which the boxes aremounted, may be and are of well known construction, the rod 5 servinirto raise and lower the boxes under the cal of the pattern of theshuttle-box motion of any usual form and construction, so timed that thebox which contains the shuttle next to be put into action will bebrought to the line of the raceway as the lay beats up. A structure ofthis general character is shown in United States Patent No. 692935glanted February 11, 1902, to H. W. Smit and herein as in that patent,it is supposed that a single shuttle-box will be mounted on theoplposite end of the lay, and at that same si e of the loom fillingreplenishing .or

itiechanisin of any desired character wi lbe located. Such mechanism mayconveniently be of the well known Northrop type, an exainlple of whichis found in United States Patent o. 7529940 granted to Northrop November27, 1894 the only part of suci mechanism herein shownbein thecontrolline or operating rock-shaft 6, fig. 1. As is we known to thoseskilled in the art the turning of the rock-shaft in the direction of thearrow 7 will effect a change or replenishinent of filling when theshuttle is in the box at the adjacent side of the loom.

The binders -8 and their springs 9 for the lower` three boxes or cellsof the shifting shuttle-boxes are of usual construction, but

changin the binder 1() of the top box is enlarfed to y an aperture 1.1,inost cearly provide for bent or shown in Fig. .3, the spring 12 being4arched as shown to leave the opening clear.

In substantial alinement with and below suoli aperture I have located alimiter,

shown as a flat, upright plate. 125 fixedly" secured at 14 to the boxlframe and in front Y of each of the boxes or Seells whose binders 8 areiniperl'orate, the bunter bei e' set forward some distance in front ofthel binders. lfpon the top or cover-plaie 15 of the topmost box l havesecured a tripping. l

or releasing device, shown as a 'linger i extended forward"beyond thefront of the boxes and preferably slightly downturned at its free end,at 17, for a pui-prise to be described. 'lfliis )rejection or finger isshown in dotted lincs Fig. 2 owing to the lbe provided with feeleilopenings, or adapted l having its the location of the finger withrelation to other arts of the apparatus when the topmost ox of theseries is operatively positioned, as in Fig. 2.

ln the present embodiment of my invention l. have assumed that fourshuttles are used, and that the topmost shuttle of the sia-- ries, as18,1will carry the main or body fillin and that this filling is to bereplenishei while the other shuttles will rai-ry auxiliary fillingdiffering in some way, as to character or color, from the body filling,and from each other. T hat is, the body filling may be white, and the.filling in the other three shutties may be red, blue and yellowrespectively, and will be thrown into the fabric occasionally, to rivestriped effects, for example. Obviously the number of shuttles. andshiftingr shuttle-boxes is nov essential, nor is the particulararrangement as to inain and auxi iary filling-carrying shuttles, butinasinuclras the main or body filling carrying shuttle is the one ingreatest use I consider it preferable to have it coiperate with the topmostfshuttlehox, rather than with a lower box. In order that the bodyfilling when being laid may be changed or replenished prior. to completeexhaustion I have provided a fillin -exliaustion-indicatinginstrui'nentality whie i is located at the side of the loom adjacent theshifting shuttle-boxes, such "instru mentality ineludin a feeler whichis arranged to intermittmgly feel the fillin in the shuttle carryingbody filling but wiich'is rendered inactive when another shuttle of theseries is in operation. Such exhaustionindicating instrumentality may beof en suitable construction, but for convenience have herein illustrateda device substantiall such as is shown in United States Patent rio.789471 granted May 9, 1905 to Wood and N orthro i, to which referencemay be had. Before brie v describing such instrumenunity it Should hesuited that the shuttle is lorthe body filling has an opening 19 in itsfront wall, for the entrance of the feeler to feel the filling on thefilling-carrier or bobhin 2f) when suclrshuttle is in operation, and theother shuttles, as 18", Fig. 2, may or may not for use in a fillingreplenishing leoni. ha't is, it is a matter of indifference., becausethe leeler is inactive when sut-li shuttles are in operation, iis willappear, and if a mill is equipped with shuttles for use in automaticfeeler looms such shuttles een be used for the series, but ordinaryhandfilled und threaded shuttles may he used for the occasional or auxiliaryfilling if moreconvenient.

Referring to Fig. l, a stand 21 mounted on an extension 22 of thebrear-:i` .am supports n reeipro'eafing yieldingly sustained feeler 23rear portion or head 24 adapted t0 location of the line 2-2 on which thcsection i iiitermittingly pass through the. aperture 1 is taken, butserving to clearly illustrate l of the binder 10 and through the openinginto the shuttle 18 when said shuttle is in action, the feelerinipinging upon the filling. Upon the feeler is fulcrumed a lever-likemember 25 having at its rear end a bunter 26, the saidmember at itsfrontend norrrially being held ou t of range of a controller 27 ult-ruined at23 on the extension 22 and engaging a cam-slot, not shown, in the end 29of o tiltingptransmitter 30, all substantially as in said atent No.789471 and operating as therein set forth. The transmitter extendsinward toward the center ofthe loom and coperatee with a latch 31 whichis pivotally connected at its front end to an arm '32. fast on therock-shaft 6. Normally the latch is inoperativel but whenthe filling intlle' shuttle with which the feeler cooperates is exhausted to apredetermined extent the bunter 26 impingesupon the shuttle wall anddepressee the front endof the lever-like de- Yice 25, e il`e'ctix'1`engagement with and rocking thefcontro er.2'7 as the feeler is movedforward by the beatupofthe lay Thereby thetransmittrrl) is tilted,y thelatch' lil 1s 2'5 brought into eng'a ment with an actuator aridmovedfowar turning the shaft 6 in the 4direction of the arrow 7 t'o causereplenishin'ent of filling when the shuttle is boxed Bft theo posite orreplehishing side of the '34j loo'rn. 4helateh actuator may be thewefth'ammer, as in the' patent last referred to.

,the .tshiltin` shuttle-boxes are` poassht'vlnin ig. 2-the1lingexhauslliold tion dicating 4instru'mentality is operative all l1fd t hefeeler will feel the condition of the igon ereryaltemate forward beat ofthe lily,V and the ruiming illinwill be changed 'or replenishedwhen itssu lsitantial exhaustion 'u1 the shuttle 18 lade ted by the feel'er.When another shuttle o the series is femainactive; and I have provided alofclif'to r'etani it retracted, hooked lockngvpawl 'or latch 33 has itspivot pin 34 niriseeeome on@ eine.

ingiation vit'is undesirable to havethe. feei 4actual prcticeco pawlsewill be saluted tangenti@ positivem matthew humble peut with@ thestiidfeleriingllit 'i 01 inactive..

niels, out .tf per shuttles B", than the bunter 13 which is normally beow the fccler will be raised into position to enga e the feeler on thebeat up, retracting the eeler abnormally because the bunter 13 issetforward for that purpose, see Fi 2. The stud 39 is thereby shd under theloc ing awl 33, which immediately ratrheo the stu and holds the leelerretracted, as will be manifest, s o that there will be no materialreciprocation of the feo-ler while the bunter 13 remains in itsoperative position, thus saving a great deal of unnecessary wear andtear on the ie'eler when one of the shuttles 18x is operating to lafilling. As soon as the shutt e 18 is again lnought into o ier ation'the finger 16 engages the arm 37, ifts the pawl 33 from stud 39 andunlocks the feeler which is thereby automatically reA stored to activitand it continues active while the shutt e whose fillingr is' yto bechanged or re lenished remains in operation.

From the oregoin description it will be apparent that the fee er isactive with respect. to a predetermined shuttle of the series whensuch-shuttle is la ing filling and it is rendeIed inactive wit respectto another-shuttle, or shuttles, of the series when la in vlillig.Furthermore, the control of tie'V -eler device is effected by or throughthe shifting shuttleboxes, according' to Wl'iich' of the shuttles may beoperatively positioned, the leeler bein "rendered active or inactivecors ending arious an es ornlodillcationsmav be -made by those s -illedAin the Aar-t Without de 'parting from the s iiit and scope ofvmynvention asset fort yin the appended clain'is.

It will be undersltodthat while vone shuttleof the series coperates withthejeelrr, i

the remaining shuttles do not so cooper ate, the ilillinglaid by anyofthe shuttles in erates with a filling-fork.

es aankwamen' lln breaks he 10mn n revented from weaving ad cloth, andif .the

llin' runs-1 outxn ,any ofi thershuttleswith whic the-federdoeenotcoperate lh'on the ll'lngfork 'detecte'y such lling vabsence andItclalm nfevsamxldesire to secure by Lenin,

ee om ist-.ff

'1. Inni-0911 adapted to replenish autol matlcal theLh"llinF; nicomlnntion, shifting shrt'tleexea, a'il 4lnggelrhai stico-indicatinginstrumenthlltv including a-ferler movable in asingle ath, to effect theoperation nl' the repleme mgmechanisnuand etonmir means torendcr'seidinstrx-nwntnidjv moctive with'respect to .some of the shuttles 2. Inaloomladepted toreplenis'h autr ."matically thezmnning'frlling, incombination;

. eiiitivc to lay lil sonic of the shuttlcswlieu placed a seiies ofshuttles, means to render any of said shuttles operative to lay fllhng,a hlhng .exhaustion indicating instrumentality, in

chidingr an intci'inittingl) movable member, to cause fillingreplenishment prior to substantial exhaustion. of the running,r filling,automatic means to positively loch said menibr and thereby render saidinstrumentality inactive with res )ect to one shuttle when oplling, anda device to release said member automaticall and thereby render saidinstrumentality active with res ect to another shuttle when itisoperative to lay lilling.

3. The combination, ina loom rovid'eil with filling-changing mechanism,o shiftingr shuttle-boxes, an instrumentality adjacent said hoxes andincluding a filling-fooien', to eilect theactuation of the replenishin,rmechanism prior to` complete exhaustionN of the lilling in one'of theshuttles, and automatic means to positively lock and thereby render thefeeler inactive when suoli shuttle is out of operation and another ofthe shuttles is in operation.

4. The combination. in a loom `ii'ovided with filling changingmechanism, o shifting shuttle-boxes, an instrumentality, including!` asingle feeler, to atleet the actuation of such mechanism 4prior to eon"iplete illing,r exhaus# tion in a running;r shutt e. and vmeanscontrolled by shifting of the shuttle-boxes to render thc feelei' activewith respect to one shuttle and inactive with respect to another shuttlewhen opeiativel positioned to lay fillin 1 said means inclu( ing adevice to'lock the eelei' from movement 'and thereby iten der itinactive.

5.- 'lhe combination, in a loom irovided with filling-changingmechanism, o shifting shuttle-boxes, an instrumentality, including areci 'iioeahle feelcr, to Vc'il`ect the actuation o. suc i mechanismprior to complete filling;- exhatstioii'iii a running shuttle, `and.means controlled by shiltin'gof the shuttle-boxes lto lock said feeleifrom reciprociition and thereby render it inactive with respect to inrunning position. i

6. The. f,`-.oin'biniition,i|i nl looii i provided with fillingchanging,r inechaiiisiii,' of a plurality of'shiittles containing;lilling dil'eriiii; in characteristics, means to operatively positionone oi" another shuttle to liiy filling, ai.lilling-exhaLstioii-iiidieatiiig instrumentality to eii'eet theactuation of the` replenish]iig' mechanism, and aut'oi'natic means to"render said instrumentality completely irresponslvs` I Vwhen a shuttlecarrying [Illing` of one chai"- acter ishin opeijiitiouand eoiupletclviespoi'isive when another shuttle carrying lillihifof ii diil'ei'einte'harai.-ti-r is in operation.

7, Ina loom adapted. tod-'eplenish mitomaticiilly the lillingin apiedeterinined sluit tls, in combination, 4a series ol" shuttles,

means to operatively position them one at a time, an instrumenta. ity,including a single l feelcr, to cause filling replenishment prior to icomplete exhaustion of the filling inthe predetermined shuttle, andmeans to render the feeler responsive only when 'such shuttle is in operation and irresponsive when another s iuttle of the series is inoperation.

8. ln n. loom allaptcd to replenish autoi'natically the filling in apredetermined shuttle, in combination, a series of shuttles, means tooperatively position them one at a time, an insti'umeiitalit including afeeler, to ciiuse filling replenishment prior to complete exhaustii'inYof the filling in the prede tei'mined shuttle, a feeler lock, means torelease the feeler fromA the control of thelock when the predeterminedshuttle is in operation, iincl`means toenguee and move the feeler intothe control yofthe lock when another shuttle of the series isoperatively positioncd. j

9. In a loom adapted to replenish automatically the filling' 'inapredetermined shuttle, in combination, a series of shuttles, shiftioprshuttle-boxes therefor, an instrumentalit includingr a fceler, to'eleetlllingreplenis iment prior to complete exhaustion ofthe lilling in thepredetermined shuttle, a feele'r lock, a relcpsing device on one of theboxes, to li'ee'the feeler when the predetermined shuttle is inoperation, and means oniinother of tlic boxes to en rage thi` .feelerand place it under control of t iollock when the predetermined shuttleis oii't lof operation.

1U?. l[n a loom, .in combination, shifting shuttle-boxes one. of whichhas a'feeler a lertiire, a series of shuttles controlled as to t airoperation bysiiid boxes, an instruincntalit including a feeler, tociiusefilling rep'leiiis nient filling in the sliiittlc'ontering'theapertured box, a `l'eeler lock-nieans on'the a erturcd box Vto renderthe e inoperative w icnfsaid pi sitionod, and means on box isoperatively lthe other shuttlcfixes vto en rage and rior to completeexhaustionxof the re tract the fecler toplaee; it une or control i? thelock `when any oiieof such latter shuttleboxes is operativelypositioned.

ll lnf a loom, iii combination, shifting shuttle-boxes one ol which hasa 4["oelel a ertiirc," ii`serics of shuttles controlled as to t eir boxto tri the ioiiki-nd vrelease tiefe when said ox is opiiritively1positioned, nd a bunter toen faire and place the feelci ri, er

control of the oeh when any one of the ot ier shuttle-boxesisoporatively positioned.

l2. ln a loom irovidfed iirithii-llingr 'chang-V ing mechanism, shiftingshuttle-boxes, means for causing said mechanism to eil'eet a-chaiige offilling on the substantial exhaustion of the in oneh of the shuttleswhen operatively, si oned `d means to prevent the operaion of suchmechanism notwithstanding substantial iillingcxhaustion in another ofthe shuttles when operatively positioned.

13. In ,alom provided with fillin changing mechanism, a lay, shifting|shutt e-boxes at one end lthereof, an instrumentality adjacent the saineend ofthe lay to detect the condition of the filling in aarticularshuttle and to cause filling replenis Am'ent when predeterminedtilling exhaustion is detected, and means to render said instrumentalitycompletely inoperative when some of the shuttles are in 'operation andto automatic- .ally restore said instrumentality to opera tive conditionwhenl another of the shuttles is in o eration, Whereb the illin in suchlatter s uttle only may e change prior to complete exhaustion. Y,

14. In a loom provided With mechanism to relenish the running filling,-an instrumenta ty to cause the operation of such mechanism prior to.complete filling exhaustion in an active shuttle, and including aVreciprocating feeler adapted to intermittin ly enteran active shuttleand feel' the ling therein, shifting shuttle-boxes and `their binders,one of the binders 'having a feeler aperture, a bunter movable with saidboxes and ositionedJ to engage the feeler whcn any of t ose yboxeshaving non-,ailiertured binders are in operative position, to retract`theieeler an a rihrmal amount, a look to engage and hold theffeelerWhen abnormally retracted, and a rtripping device to engage and renderthe lock inoperative, -to thereb release the feeler, when theshuttle-box aving the apertured binder is operatively positioned.-v

\ 15. In a loom provided with mechanism normally o eratve to effectautomatically a changel of ling 2in the runninhuttle upon substantialexhaustion of the ling therein, shifting shuttle ,-boxes, and means toren der/sard mechanism completely irresponsive when one of the shuttlesis in operation even ,A ation.

if substantial filling-exhaustion occurs thcre in and to permit thenormal operation of said mechanism when another shuttle is in oper- 16.The combination, in a loom provided with filling-'changing mechanism, ofa plurality of shuttles, means to operatively position one oranother'shuttle to' lay filling, an instrumentality to effect theoperation of the Villin -changing mechanism u on substantialiilling-exhaustion in one o the shuttles when in Operation, and means tocoperate with and positively prevent any operation of saidinstrumentality whenanothcr shuttle is in operation.

17. In a loom provided with mechanism normally o erative to el'ectautomatically a change of illing in the running shuttle upon substantialexhaustion of the filling therein, shiftin shuttle-boxes, and means'controlled by shi ting of said shuttle-boxes to render said mechanismcompletely irresponsive when one of the shuttles is in operation even ifsubstantial filling-exhaustion occurs .therein and cto permit the normaloperation of said mechanism when another shuttle is in operation.

18. The combination, in a loom provided with filling-changing mechanism,of a plurality of shuttles, means to operatively osition one or anotherVshuttle to lay iil ing, means controlled au tornatically by or th rou ha repositioning of the shuttles to cil'eet tie operation of saidmechanism on the substantial exhaustion of the illinw inone of theshuttles when. operative, anil means to )rcve-nt the o eration of suchmechanism w len another o withstanding substantial filling exhaustiontherein.

In testimon whereof, vl have signed my name tothis peciiication, in thepresence ol' two subscribing witnesses.

' CLARE H. llliAPlR.

Witnesses: y

GORGE Ojrts DRAPER, ERNEST W. Woon.

theshuttles is operative not-`

